#the Plains buffalo hunters had time for the horse to make its way north and wildly alter their lifestyle and subsistence patterns

[whetstonefires]

I don't think it would have taken centuries without Columbus, either, because yeah a couple years later Portugal, in a natural extension of their ongoing forays along the African coast, had rounded the cape and the horn, gotten in quarrels with local pepper magnates, discovered that while they didn't have the general upper hand in India the way they'd gotten used to in Africa, shipboard cannon was an out-of-context problem in the Indian Ocean, and started throwing their weight around with gusto. And the new, wetter version of the spice trade accelerated changes in European ship technology and behavior.

Someone would have tried something vaguely similar, although it's unlikely anyone with good math would have sailed straight across into the Caribbean like he did. More likely there would have been a Viking-style coast-hugging process in the north, via the cod fisheries. Or less probable but very interesting, a replication of the Pacific island-hopping that almost definitely landed people in South America in the first place.

It would have been later and progressed along at least somewhat different lines, because many elements of history are contingent, but at the same time, yeah. Imperial behaviors are kind of predictable, and this pattern was well grounded already.

On the other hand, interesting to wonder if, with the western hemisphere out of the picture a little longer and not fueling the intra-Iberian rivalry in the same way, the colonialist lunacy would have escalated somewhat slower in afro-eurasia and indonesia.

FINE, you get another go at the time machine and the ability to prevent one birth (or commit a murder up to you), don't worry about the butterfly effect, we want the butterfly effect that's part of the point. Your actions will prevent them from ever rising to prominence. Original poll here There may be a face off poll at the end. Hitler still isn't an option because we'd all chose to kill him.

Am gonna go Pontius Pilate and say my hands are cleaned of this one. All of the below are nominees.

[school-bleh]

Native Americans, Research Task

The culture of Native Americans past, present, and future.

 The Spirituality and values of the Iñupiat peoples of North Alaska

The Iñupiat peoples are native to northern Americas. Their traditional territories spanned from Bearing Sea to the Canada-United States border, however now they are only affiliated with northern and northwest Alaska. Iñupiat meaning ‘real people’ were once a hunter gather nation relying heavily on marine animals like whales, seals, walrus and fishes, as well as seasonal wildlife like caribou, birds, rabbits, and even cautiously polar bears. But it was not what they hunted but their ideology about hunting and the natural world that makes Iñupiat’s so impressive. Hunting is an important part of their life, because it was survival, not of an individual or family but of a community. The idea of sharing is what keep the communities alive “we just give, that’s who we are” explains cultural ambassador Frantz (Tiġitquuraq) Brower (2016). If Iñupiat nations did not share, it would be near impossible to live in such a harsh climate. This survival and their relationship to the natural world that keeps them alive in one of the harshest and most unforgiving places on earth is what defines their perspective and values. The Alaskan predictably of survival is directly tied to the harsh environment around them, through this the Iñupiat peoples can better understand and respect their environment as it is their lifeline. They spend all their time in nature, developing an intimate relationship with it that is often lost in our modern world. Living this lifestyle gives Iñupiats the belief that everything has a spirit, was alive in its own way and deserved respect, from the animals they kill, to the water they fish from, to the ice they hunt on, and the tundra they pick berries from. Everything is equally important, there is no hierarchy. Respecting the animal, and the land is the true meaning of success to the Iñupiats. An example of the compassion the Iñupiat maintain, is when a young man accidently killed a mother polar bear. “A boy of 9 was out seal hunting, when he was attacked from behind, he grabbed his knife and saved himself only to realise he just killed a mother polar bear. Traditionally we always avoid killing mothers, as we see it as our sacred duty to protect them. The boy then had to present himself to the council, and the elders decided that he must mother the now orphaned young. And so he looked after it, and then eventually taught it to survive in the wild on its own.” Shares Fannie (Kuutuuq) Akpik on a storey from her childhood. The simplicity of living equally in line with nature is inspiring and should be more recognised as an important aspect in our modern society.

  The Government of the Incan Empire

The Inca were a rling faction who controlled a large empire that stretched along the Pacific coast from Ecuador to northern Chile. This empire; the Inca dynasty began in 1200 A.D. and lasted until the 16th century, when the Spanish Conquerors arrived. The Inca Empire was likely one of the biggest empires of all the indigenous Americas before Spanish arrival, owing to its estimated population of 10-12 million. The Inca Empire was especially exceptional because of the complexity of its political organizations, engineering feats, and built structures, in the almost inaccessible location of the Andes mountains, unequal to any other organization of Native American people. What remains of this civilization is scattered over the highlands of the Andes, remaining cities, and buildings depict how impressive and established the society once was. The Inca’s rapid expanse over Peruvian land is made possible by its stable and controlling form of government in opposition to little competition, isolation, and local conflict. This government is held together through the martial alliances formed to solidify political relations. The emperor of the Inca would marry daughters of prestigious local lords to retain peace in the community, while lesser rulers would form powers around major cities, by intermarriage to create a local alliances and kinships that many other regions in south America lacked at the time. Another reason for the Incas success is their military power. Professor Terence D'Altroy (American Archaeology Institute) believes that “contributing to the Inca advancement was that conflict had long been honed as a requisite for leadership, so that militarism was built into the culture.” As consequence to this the strongest most able person normally held a lot of power in a society like this, which can be effective in expanding power, but destructive in stability leading to possible factional competition and break down of political structure. Incan society was strictly organised from the emperor and royal family down to the peasants. The emperor himself was thought to have been a direct descendent to the sun god, therefore ruled with divine authority except for the influence of revolt, and traditions. Below the emperor was the aristocracy which encompassed descendants of the emperor and his relations. These Incas held important government, religious, and military roles. The empire itself was named Tahuantinsuyu, meaning “Land of the Four Quarters”, with Cusco the capital in the centre. A blood relative of the emperor served as governor over each quarter, then officials would further divide the area into progressively smaller and more manageable units, each governor oversaw ten district governs whom ruled another leader in charge of small villages, who then oversaw foremen supervising peasants. At times native populations were uprooted and resettled in other areas, for resource, and politically motivated reasons. Furthermore these relocations continued the spread of the empire, their ideas, culture, and unity of the Incan empire.

 The Warfare of the Lakota Tribe

The Lakota Native Americans inhabited a large portion of the Great Plains. The heartland of this country was a vast sea of grass, mountainous terrain and forested rivers running up against the western wall of the Plains, the Rocky Mountains. The Lakota are a fiercely strong tribe, who’s notable leaders include; Red Claw, Red Horn Buffalo, Black Elk, and Crazy Horse. When the Lakota travelled to the Arkansas’ hot springs they were joined with other tribes, so that they could hunt, trade, and take the healing waters together. Even when opposing tribes were at war, individuals would come here together in safety and peace. The connection and respect for nature and each other that the Great Plains Native Americans have, can clearly be seen here. Despite this show of peace seasonal warfare was constant in the area surrounding the Great Lakes, as tribes were being driven out, displaced, and resettled conflict was inevitable. When the horses arrived in the Great Plains it completely changed the way Lakota people lived and hunted. Suddenly food supply was not a problem as hunting buffalo from horseback was much more efficient and safer. This gave them more confidence with fewer restraints and true nomadism began in North America. The horse-rich tribes shared roaming and hunting territories in the Plains, and even shared cultural traditions and military alliances purely on the existence of a common enemy. The Lakota tribe prospered at this, and gained more goods and equipment to ride into battle with like small shields painted with godly symbols, like medicine bears and birds to protect them from the enemy. Bows gained greater power, and clubs and lances were used in close combat. Rifles were not usually used due to lack of access western parts and efficiency issues. Honour in warfare was received to the Lakota tribes through a “Coup”. It signified bravery, and status within a tribe. Striking the opponent with a gun or bow, can be considered a higher achievement than actually killing him. In the early days the Lakota would rise in vast numbers against opponents with nothing but sticks or bare hands. They would hit their enemy make sure to never kill them, and ride away. This was done because in the Lakota’s believed that killing enemies was unnecessary, and that real bravery is without violence. Honours were usually granted for stealing horses, riding down an enemy, stealing weapons, or scalping him. the coups came in the forms of insignia like, special feathers, markings on horses, beads, pictographs, etc. The different perspectives on warfare as a more respectful and honourable act is important to remember in the Modern World. The Lakota people are fierce, but fight with strength and honour. Making warfare less like a butchering and more of a ritual of leaning and becoming strong as a nation.

  Source Analysis

Source1; “The Inupiat people are a living people, and a living culture. Even though we live in northern Alaska, which covers the mast area from Nome, all the way to the Canadian border, is that there’s this extreme value of interconnectedness and independence. It’s a hunting society, It’s a gathering society, from thousands of years. This is what creates our culture. That special relationship between humans, and the natural world, and the animals, and that it teaches you how to have a society that doesn’t do too much harm to the world. Love and respect: for nature, for one another, for elders, a very, very fundamental value, key to life. Our values are something that bind us all: The importance of sharing with another. The importance of spirituality and the connection to the land, our traditions, how we hunt, sharing of stories and songs and dances. It’s very important to me its who I am as a person. We are very proud of who we are and want to continue that.”- Cultural Ambassadors for the Inupiat people (2015) A Living People, A Living Culture. Never Alone Cultural Insights.

Source 1: An interview about the culture and people of the Inupiat tribe of Northern Alaska. It is a primary source as the people being interviewed are genuine Iñupiat people, practicing their same living culture that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years. The perspective of the interview is from the Iñupiat people themselves, the motive being to show that Iñupiat people and their culture as a living tradition that’s being practiced not just an object to be viewed in a museum. It highlights the Native Alaskan tribe in a positive light, explaining the good values and connectedness the community feels together from their perspective. It is very useful when studying the Iñupiat tribes despite it being only from their perspective because it explains what their culture is from their point of view without degrading any other bias. It shows the importance the people feel about who they are and how they want it to be equally respected. The purpose positions the audience to think about Iñupiat spirituality from an indigenous point of view. Its Usefulness is not limited as the interview investigates lots of aspects about the Iñupiat culture and the extent of its significance to themselves. It does not require cross-referencing and is both relevant and reliable even with its positive bias.

  Source 2: Is the lost city of Machu Picchu, only discovered by the west in the 20th century. It’s believed to have been a private estate for an Incan emperor. It is a primary source built by the Incan Empire in 1450, but was abandoned a century later when the Spanish conquest arrived. As there is little information other than what buildings still stand there today the Machu Picchu as impressive as it is cannot tell us a lot about the people or the society that lived there at the time. However it does have different buildings in areas inside the estate like a temple for religious purposes, an agricultural sector for farming, and an urban sector for living, so it can tell us some information about the way people lived here. It shows the skill and manpower the empire must have had to construct such an impressive engineering feat in the 15th century in such a difficult environment. The source also showcases the different standards of living as the different sections differ in quality and luxury of housing and objects. So it is useful to some extent. However with everything that it tell us we can never truly know for use if that’s the true, so more evidence and other sources would be needed to back of the credibility of the assumptions people make about what the people within Machu Picchu lived like. The physical evidence of the city is reliable, and defiantly useful but only to an extent.

[onwardmotley]

.

#the aztec state was not at the same centralization level#as the nations drawing on the organizational legacies of china and rome (and persia)#so their imperialism couldn't unfold entirely the same ways#wrt scale#it was much more like classical grecian city over city suzerainty in structure#but if the mexica had been relatively late instead of quite early in the contact chain#they would have had a lot of time to adopt both physical and organizational technologies from their new rivals#in the way nations tend to do#and gobble up more neighbors more thoroughly#and THAT alternate history gets interesting#imo#tenochtitlan's artisanal sophistication was CONSIDERABLE and their theological reasoning both hat and abstract#(imo abstract theology is a vital developmental tool for other cultural abstractions)#and a tradition of forceful statesmen doing deliberate social engineering#so i think given time to rebound from the inevitable plagues and the right leadership#they had a solid shot#at defining the game in north america#as in reality their weakness would have been that their ethnic hierarchy was also regionalized and thus prone to splintering#odds are it would not go like this no matter what the timing and placement but like#the Plains buffalo hunters had time for the horse to make its way north and wildly alter their lifestyle and subsistence patterns#before mot of them made real contact with any europeans directly#and the mexica were much closer to the water so they weren't going to have THAT long#BUT STILL#the japanese approach never ceases to blow my mind

FINE, you get another go at the time machine and the ability to prevent one birth (or commit a murder up to you), don't worry about the butterfly effect, we want the butterfly effect that's part of the point. Your actions will prevent them from ever rising to prominence. Original poll here There may be a face off poll at the end. Hitler still isn't an option because we'd all chose to kill him.

Am gonna go Pontius Pilate and say my hands are cleaned of this one. All of the below are nominees.